Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Scott Leary, MD
Neurological Surgery · San Diego, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Mixed engagement
Very High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 4 of 4 federal sources
Measures public federal data availability — not provider quality
Informational, not a quality rating.
This page presents federal public records about Dr. Leary from CMS (NPPES, Open Payments, Medicare Provider Utilization, PECOS). It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a judgment of clinical quality. Always consult the provider directly and a licensed clinician for medical decisions. Read methodology →
Are you Dr. Leary?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Leary
Dr. Scott Leary is a neurological surgery specialist in San Diego, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Leary performed 1,494 Medicare services across 1,078 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Leary received a total of $279,814 from 33 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 186 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in neurological surgery. The majority of payments are classified as financial or ownership interests (royalties, licensing fees, or investment interests). Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Leary is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 4% volume in CA
$279,814 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,494
Medicare services
Top 4% in CA for neurological surgery
1,078
Unique beneficiaries
$189
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~79 Medicare services per year of practice
Top procedures by volume
Ranked by number of services performed for Medicare patients. Avg. submitted charge is what the provider billed; avg. Medicare payment is what CMS paid.
| Procedure | Volume | Avg. paid | Avg. submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
414 | $146 | $400 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum 6 views An X-ray imaging test that captures at least six views of the lower back and sacral spine to evaluate bone structure and alignment. |
152 | $57 | $350 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 6 or more views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using six or more separate views to capture detailed images of the bones and structures in that area. |
101 | $51 | $262 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 93 | $181 | $1,500 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using at least four different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
79 | $32 | $300 |
| Imaging guidance for procedure, 60 minutes or less Use of imaging technology to guide a medical procedure. This service lasts 60 minutes or less. |
66 | $13 | $1,000 |
| Spinal fusion with cage or mesh insertion A surgical procedure to fuse vertebrae by inserting a cage or mesh device into the disc space between the bones. |
45 | $264 | $4,000 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) A follow-up office visit for an existing patient lasting between 30 and 39 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
39 | $107 | $301 |
| Additional spine bone removal with nerve release This procedure involves removing additional segments of bone from the middle, lower, or sacral spine to release the spinal cord or nerves. It is performed using a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach. |
35 | $139 | $2,086 |
| Spinal fusion of additional segment A surgical procedure to join an additional section of the spine to the existing fusion. This is performed as a separate or subsequent step to stabilize more of the spinal column. |
33 | $308 | $3,000 |
| Additional spine bone and disc removal This procedure involves the incision or removal of an additional segment of spine bone along with the removal of the associated disc. |
30 | $285 | $3,000 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, each additional segment This procedure involves the partial removal of spinal bone to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. It is billed for each additional spinal segment treated beyond the initial segment. |
30 | $166 | $4,033 |
| Spinal cord graft placement A surgical procedure to place a graft onto the spinal cord. This involves transplanting tissue to the spinal cord area. |
30 | $460 | $5,517 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 45 and 59 minutes. This code covers the total time spent by the physician or qualified healthcare professional on the date of the encounter. |
29 | $137 | $1,200 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the lower or sacral spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
28 | $234 | $2,000 |
| Fusion of spine in lower back | 27 | $766 | $8,296 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging guidance An injection into a lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance for the second level treated. |
24 | $118 | $1,000 |
| X-ray of middle spine, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that produces two views of the middle section of the spine to visualize the bones and joints. |
22 | $23 | $200 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 2-3 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize the front of two to three spinal segments. |
21 | $572 | $6,000 |
| Computer-assisted spinal procedure A surgical or diagnostic procedure involving the spine that utilizes computer technology to assist with planning, navigation, or execution. |
21 | $181 | $2,000 |
| Anterior lumbar interbody fusion with partial disc removal A surgical procedure to fuse the lower spine bones by accessing the area through the abdomen and partially removing a spinal disc. |
20 | $423 | $8,188 |
| Spinal bone removal with nerve release, single segment Surgical removal of a single segment of bone from the middle, lower, or sacral spine to release pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. The procedure is performed through an approach inside the abdominal cavity or behind it. |
20 | $1,443 | $10,160 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, 1 segment A surgical procedure involving the partial removal of a bone segment in the spine to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This is performed on a single spinal segment. |
18 | $479 | $10,000 |
| Lower spine bone and disc removal A surgical procedure involving the incision or removal of a segment of bone from the lower spine along with the removal of a spinal disc. |
17 | $654 | $8,941 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the lower back and sacral spine to visualize the bones and joints in this area. |
17 | $32 | $282 |
| Anterior spinal fusion with partial disc removal, each additional disc This procedure involves fusing spine bones together through an incision in the front of the body, with partial removal of the disc, for each additional disc treated. |
16 | $173 | $2,000 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 3-6 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize three to six vertebrae in the back. |
15 | $602 | $5,500 |
| Spinal injection with imaging guidance A procedure where medication is injected into the middle or upper part of the spinal canal. Imaging technology is used to guide the needle to the correct location. |
15 | $235 | $1,500 |
| Injection into lower spine canal with imaging guidance A procedure where a substance is injected into the lower part of the spinal canal. The injection is performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
14 | $229 | $1,500 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
12 | $27 | $150 |
| Skin graft site preparation, trunk/arms/legs Preparation of the skin area on the trunk, arms, or legs to receive a skin graft. This procedure is specified for infants and children covering 100.0 square centimeters or 1% of body area or less. |
11 | $179 | $2,000 |
How to read this data: This reflects Medicare patients only (typically 65+). Payment amounts are what Medicare paid the provider, not your out-of-pocket cost. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
9.4% high complexity
9.8% medium
80.7% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$279,814
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $39,973/year across 7 years
Top 7% in CA for neurological surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
33
Companies
186
Individual payments
All payments are legal and publicly reported · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Financial / Ownership
Ownership or investment interests, royalties, and licensing fees
$199,590 (71.3%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$55,167 (19.7%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$24,917 (8.9%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$140 (0.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$50,328
2023
$24,798
2022
$41,593
2021
$64,603
2020
$42,995
2019
$30,011
2018
$25,485
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
MEDACTA USA, INC.
$26,763
KYOCERA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
$12,654
Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC
$5,694
Integrity Implants Inc. dba Accelus
$4,543
XTANT MEDICAL INC
$449
Woven Orthopedic Technologies, LLC
$120
Medtronic, Inc.
$66
Arteriocyte Medical Systems, Inc.
$35
BIOCOMPOSITES INC
$4
Top 3 companies account for 89.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC
$79,932
MEDACTA USA, INC.
$62,056
Kyocera Medical Technologies, Inc.
$42,734
Medacta USA, Inc.
$33,841
Integrity Implants Inc.
$17,083
Surgalign Spine Technologies, Inc.
$15,077
KYOCERA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
$12,654
Integrity Implants Inc
$5,517
Integrity Implants Inc. dba Accelus
$4,543
Arteriocyte Medical Systems, Inc.
$1,686
Centinel Spine, LLC
$1,267
XTANT MEDICAL INC
$449
ulrich medical USA, Inc.
$325
Nutech Spine, Inc.
$289
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$274
RTI Surgical, Inc.
$262
Innovasis Inc
$253
Renovis Surgical Technologies, Inc.
$232
Republic Spine, LLC
$217
Organogenesis Inc.
$170
Spine Wave, Inc.
$154
Cerapedics Inc.
$140
PARADIGM SPINE, LLC
$122
SI-BONE, INC.
$121
Woven Orthopedic Technologies, LLC
$120
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$101
Medtronic, Inc.
$66
AlloSource
$37
KCI USA, Inc.
$35
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$24
Aesculap, Inc.
$16
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$12
BIOCOMPOSITES INC
$4
Top 3 companies account for 66.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AESCULAP · ANDEXXA · ANSPACH · All Spine Stimulation · AlloFuse · Allograft · COFIX IMPLANT 10 MM · Cervical Stim · EXPAREL · FORTILINK · FORTILINK CAGES WITH TIPLUS TECHNOLOGY · FORTILINK-C TIPLUS · FORTILINK-TC TIPLUS · FlareHawk · I-FACTOR PEPTIDE ENHANCED BONE GRAFT · IFUSE IMPLANT · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · LineSider · MIDLINE II · MIDLINE II-Ti · MINOP MODULAR NEUROENDOSCOPY SYSTEM · MUST · MUST MINI Set Screw · MYSPINE · Magellan · NANOSS ABGS FAMILY · NuCel · PREVENA · PRODISC C · PRODISC Vivo · Posterior Fusion · QUINTEX · SIFIX · STALIF C · STALIF C-Ti · STALIF L · STIMULAN · Spinal Implants · Toro · coflex
Should you be concerned? Payments from pharmaceutical and device companies are legal and common — 57% of U.S. physicians receive at least one. They often reflect legitimate consulting, research, or education. What matters is whether a recommended drug or device appears in your doctor's payment records. If so, consider asking your doctor about it. How to interpret this data →
Payments are distributed across multiple categories with no single dominant type. Total industry engagement is in the top 7% for neurological surgery in CA.
Geographic Context
Neurological surgerists within 10 mi
78
Per 100K population
2.4
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN DIEGO
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | Weekly updates |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | Monthly updates |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not public | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Leary is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 4% in CA), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 7% of CA peers, with 19 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Leary experienced with office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Leary performed 414 office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) services. Research suggests that higher procedure volume is often associated with better outcomes, particularly for complex procedures. Note that Medicare data only captures patients aged 65 and older, so the total practice volume across all patients is likely higher.
Does Dr. Leary receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Leary received a total of $279,814 from 33 companies across 186 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common among physicians — 57% of all U.S. physicians receive at least one industry payment. Patients may wish to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if a recommended drug or device appears in the payment records.
How do Dr. Leary's costs compare to other neurological surgerists in San Diego?
Dr. Leary's average Medicare payment per service is $189. Note that these figures represent what Medicare pays, not your out-of-pocket cost, which depends on your specific insurance plan and deductible. Procedure-level data above shows both what was submitted and what Medicare paid for each service type.
What does Data Coverage mean?
Data Coverage (currently Very High for Dr. Leary) measures how much public federal data is available about a provider. It is not a quality rating. A "Very High" or "High" level means the provider has data across multiple federal sources (NPPES, PECOS, Medicare Utilization, Open Payments), indicating a long track record of practice, Medicare participation, and industry disclosure. A "Low" or "Moderate" level may simply mean the provider is newer, does not see Medicare patients, or has not received any industry payments — none of which are inherently negative. Read our full methodology →
Is this data up to date?
Each data source has its own update cycle. Provider registry data (NPPES) is updated weekly. Medicare enrollment (PECOS) is updated monthly. Medicare practice data has a ~2 year lag — the most recent available is typically 2 years prior. Industry payment data (Open Payments) is published annually, usually in June, covering the prior calendar year. We display the data date prominently on each section so you always know how current it is. See our data freshness policy →
Explore related providers
Same specialty & city
Neurological Surgerists in San Diego
Browse neurological surgerists in San Diego ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Neurological Surgerists in CA
Neurological surgerists ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Neurological Surgerists in CA
Which CA neurological surgerists receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC.
By company
MEDACTA USA, INC. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from MEDACTA USA, INC.
By company
Kyocera Medical Technologies, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Kyocera Medical Technologies, Inc.
About this page
All data on this page is sourced verbatim from public federal records published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): NPPES ↗, Open Payments ↗, Medicare Provider Utilization ↗, and PECOS. Publication is mandated by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (§6002 ACA, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7h) and the Freedom of Information Act.
This page is not medical advice, an endorsement, a recommendation, or a quality rating. Data Coverage reflects data completeness — how much federal information exists for this provider — not clinical performance, patient outcomes, or quality of care. Always verify information directly with the provider and consult a licensed clinician before making medical decisions.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology